The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assigned former New Zealand and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Tim Southee as their 'specialist skills consultant' prior to the home series against India, which is scheduled to be held on June 20. Southee will team up with England head coach Brandon McCullum, another New Zealand native, in the coaching setup. The upcoming Test series against India will mark the beginning of summer in England and a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Team England had to brawl with multiple injury concerns, major bowlers sidelined due to fitness issues. With the service of multiple first-team bowlers, ECB was forced to include some new faces in the team. Before facing India, England will play a one-off contest against Zimbabwe from May 22. The performance of Ben Stokes will be under the scanner as he just returned from an injury spell. 

As per reports, there is a short-term contract between ECB and Tim Southee. The contract includes the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, the limited-overs (ODIs and T20Is) contests against the West Indies, and the five-match Test series against India, which is scheduled to be wrapped up on August 4. 

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England is looking forward for a short and effective stint from the veteran

Southee joined the team as a replacement for James Anderson, who joined the English as a mentor after announcing his decorative retirement. Tim Southee's experience can play as a positive catalyst in the mix, as he is well aware of Indian batters and about the conditions where the ball can move in both directions. 

ECB officially stated in a written format, "New Zealand’s all-time leading wicket-taker will support England’s squads across all formats through to the conclusion of the Rothesay Test series against India. Following his consultancy stint, he will resume playing duties in The Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix. Southee will link up with the squad ahead of England’s opening fixture of the international summer—the Rothesay Test against Zimbabwe."